You've Reached Sam

Julie returns to work at Mr. Lee’s bookstore after over a week without contact. Julie helps her only coworker, Tristan, stack new books. She thanks Tristan for taking her shifts and apologizes for leaving them without notice. Tristan offers his sympathy for Sam, but Julie focuses on the store.

Mr. Lee arrives, telling her, “The books missed you,” and understanding her absence (64). He takes her to the back room, giving her a “beautiful brown clothbound” journal with “embroidered flower patterns that appear dusted with gold” (64). Mr. Lee calls it an investment in her novel-writing future. Julie shares that she’s been struggling to write, so he encourages her to listen to her own voice and write the story that means something to her.

Tristan tells her that his short film made it into the Spring Flick festival and shyly asks if she’s interested in going. After hesitating, she agrees to attend with him. Tristan is ecstatic but understands if she changes her mind.

Later, Julie walks a path with blooming cherry blossom trees at the local university, just like she and Sam used to, hand in hand. On the phone, Sam wants her to walk through the lane as their yearly spring tradition.